Grocery Store Owner Slain After Holdup

CHICAGO — A west suburban man was shot to death Thursday after he tried to chase two men who held up his Chicago grocery store, police said.

Avtar Singh Nijjar, 52, of Bensenville, died of a bullet wound to the chest at 8 a.m., a half-hour after the shooting, said Detective Philip Ducar of the Harrison Area.

Two of three men who pulled up to the Prince Food Mart, 2700 W. 25th St., entered the store and announced a stickup. An unknown amount of cash was taken from the cash register, which was later found turned over.

When Nijjar chased the two men outside, one of them turned and fired three shots, hitting him once in the chest, Detective John Thomas said.